Yellowstone - Tracks of the StoneBear
Ride along with Uncle Hargus on another journey to the West. SLC, Tetons, Cody, WY, Chief Joseph Hwy, Beartooth Hwy, Red Lodge, Dillon, Virginia City MT, and Bonneville USA.
Also look in ITW Tracks of the StoneBear ITW = Into The West http://stonebeartracks.blogspot.com/ ALL Blog posts and photographs Copyright MCMLXIII ALL Rights Reserved

Friday, January 28, 2011

This will be the last post for a while. I won't be around here much longer, maybe just a few more walks around the sun before I get out of here. Heading back out to points unknown. That's the real gift. ... taking the days as they come and enjoying them.

The rationale for the StoneBeartracks website was to journal a few observations sent back home during a lifetime of searching and exploration.

Really, it's 'cause I've used up about 8 of my 9 lives; there have been several close calls and shouldn't even be here. ...And after a lifetime of burning the candle at both ends am pretty well worn out.

The greedy part of me wants to ask the Lord... I'm gonna need another lifetime to see all the great things here on earth. There are still so many things I want to see and learn about. The reality is I am thankful for this brief moment between the eternities. Over 40 years ago made the promise that I would serve, and not waste my time / life here,... and pretty well kept my word on that.

So I made the choice to leave the rat race to the rats and take a different path. Being thankful for the blessings to take this odyessy I enjoyed it enough to jot down some notes while traveling through. The question was asked about the ITW / MARNE and many previous journeys... "?What did you learn?"

Simple answer; I learn something new every day. The journeys are just learning in different places than the usual stomping grounds. ...can't answer the overall question in simple terms/ sentence.

This odyessy took the roads less travelled, and am most thankful for that priviledge. This brief walk between the eternities has allowed some pretty good views in some really neat places over the years.

In the places traveled, learned what it was that made that place ... what it was; from crossroads / staging areas for the pioneers forming up wagon trains to head west across the prarie... to the remote ghost towns. .... to vikings crossing the North Sea. Each had their own unique histories full of answers from the ?who , ?what, ?why, ?when... ect...

I learned new things... and often learned that my earlier studying / reading/ investigating/ searching/ .... often.... confirmed earlier conclusions. Every place is interesting.

Each day offered up the opportunity to to delve into the cities, towns, regions explored. Every place was interesting in it's own way; but what made it unique in its life is that what sustained its evolution to now.

The geography, their history, its historical evolution, the archaeology, anthropology, biology, quantum physics, geology, botany, astronomy, sociology, its business / capital formation, their religion, their ancestral heritage and values, ... and what made it evolve and survive to its present state? .... and at times died there At every place, I wanted to know.

... Often reminded that it was a gift for something as simple as eating a ham samich while sitting on the docks of a fishing village in Newfoundland, or on the bank of the Deschutes river, listening and watching the clear mountain stream water flow by-- on it's journey.

Like the river on it's journey... flows to where it's supposed to be; I'll wind up where I'm supposed to be also. ... I'm just passing through here.

?What did you learn? you just have to click on the archive links .... see what each days journal / place was like. This is the best way to explain these places.

?You want to see petroglyphs?.... or Medicine Wheel in Wyoming?... or Rocky Harbor, Newfoundland,.... click around here to see.

Thank you for all your prayers for safe travel. I'll post when I can from the road. 'til then... will be dancing for my tribe. StoneBeartracks

Canyon Jack, got word of your upcoming quest / adventure &would like to give you a few notes to tuck in your backpack and carry w/ you on this quest / trip. We are kindred spirits! And I'm glad you want to see the world.

Canyon, you are like my Son... you really are. Even though I'm your Unc Hargus... there is only a few things I can do for you.... to teach you of the world... to see the great things and PLACES of our world. From our previous trips ... up to CA, OR , WA, Whistler via Squamish, I know your heart & spirit. It's an easy choice for me. My only regret is that I couldn't be w/ you... but I will be.

the things I want you to study and learn ... and pass on are :

Quantum physics: everything evolves because of this... of the places .... of you... in you! One girl you meet is a friend... one girl makes your heart race... it's the quantum physics that release endorphins / hormones that can/ or cannot explain why that happens to almost everything in sciences and art. & why a life will take a different path because of random choices.

Geology: / Earth sciences... study the rock strata... to understand that our world is the way it evolved. & the great scenery is a sheer BONUS to view. I always can find a place to say aprayer when I'm at a great view. Don't miss sunsets; they are peace. ?What were their natural resources? ... Bronze for weapons... that was high technology at the time. or animal skins for survival in an artic climate. Rivers / lakes for trade routes ect.. Minerals; everything on earth comes from the ground ; It is either mined.... or grown. The 1st time I cracked a rock open and found a fossil; I was hooked! We sent guys to the moon.... & told them to bring back ROCKS to study; you study them too. Hydrology: A world war will be fought over water, not oil.

Archaeology: you will find the way people lived... their artifacts... their trash reveals so much; you pretty much are a detective. did they store food? for themseleves... or an extended family? ... ?Did they store food in pottery?... their version of a modern refridgerator? .... sharp obsidian rock cutting blades... via hunting... ect meat & skins for survival . Clovis culture? ; a clovis / Folsom spear point was high technology for the time period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_culture http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/expeditions/treasure_fossil/Treasures/Folsom_Point/point.html?50 How did they build thier houses? ?out of what local raw material?

Anthropology: You will study their cultural societal data to see how they lived.... as clans / tribes ... hunter / gatherers.... family structures.... as they lived. ?Did they have a god? ?were they a warring tribe? for what reason... ?What family traditions did they pass on to the next generations? ect.. ?What dances did their tribe dance? & why? ?What / who did they worship & why? ?What religeon and what probability they'd go to war for or about religeon? ?Did they have / serve Gods? or Kings? ?They had armies? for expansion or for the barbarians at the gates? From an early age I studied indian cultures & customs; from an early age I was an adventurer / explorer long before there was an Indiana Jones character. ?What language did they speak? or other communication. ?What did they value as a culture?

Religion: I tend to lean more towards a spiritual walk & not get hung up w/ religeous doctrine. Yes you need faith, and a moral compass to direct you. Just beware of the many false prophets who are a combination of huckster con men, snake oil salesmen, and motivational speaker. Homo-sapien man dates back 50 to 100k years ago. Some theories that asian man came across the Alaskan land bridge about 60k years ago. Neo-Lithic Chinese date back 10-12,000 years ago were making pottery then. About the same time of the Navajo / Dine. The Greeks, Africans, 12 tribes ect... have loooong ancient histories & stories passed down that have legend / myth / lesson / stories that are still told today, weather they are mesopotaminan or chinese stories, fold and weave into some religions. The cristians are only a couple thaousand years old; the mormons a couple hundred. Lean more toward spriritual walk & leave it others to waste their time argueing about
religious
dogma. No one has come back from the afterlife to tell anything. The indians / navajos refer to life as the great mystery; seems a wise thought out assesment. I've yet to see a Navajo on tv preaching about what you "should" be doing or not doing.... or doing faith healings. So,... 2,000 year religeons ect... they are newcomers; new kids on the block. Your religeous / spiritual walk is good for your faith.... but you still live here in this world, on this planet where these sciences explore & explain our past & future. The Greeks developed complex mathmatical formulas 5 to 7k years ago; their philosiphers are worth studying also! Get better advice than mine. My interpretation is not traditional after living in Florida for a decade & experiencing some questionable people that wore their christianity on their shirtsleeves... form your ownprinciples... be sceptical of advice from prophets.

Astronomy: For thousands of years men have got on rickety boats and sailed into the night on the oceans. or crossed the plains. Navigation and the tides. Pioneers went ahead in search of..... everything. An eclipse meant the gods were mad? Pioneers knew the stars to navigate; settlers knew the seasons to farm & ranch. It's advanced math also. Think acretion= the particles of dirt & crud that sticks to your car wheel wells when driving in snow~ particles grew to planets.

Biology: Natural selection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection . Strong DNA chains. You want to know & understand "survivor of the fittest"? & how do mutations in a gene sequence happen & why is it important to know genetic variation.

Botany ...ect... Pollen. Learn what "Adaptation" is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptation .... plants; ... yeah, it's about sex. you get the idea. You don't have to be in a classroom to learn these things. ... but do read, study & learn Adaptation. Same thing happens with animals, just takes longer.

Microbiology: Aerobic, or anaerobic.... they (the cells) will either be Gram Negative,.. or Gram Positive. Know why this is important for bacteria cells to / or not to reproduce. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-positive_bacteria Understand cell division and mutation

let me add something here about sex. The sex part is fairly easy. The parts fit as designed but it takes time to find the balance. Find the time; it's important. A good partner is really nice. A life partner makes it great. The difficult part is the Love. Don't confuse lust & the physical sex for love. The love is what's hard to find the combination. & it goes back to the quantum physics-- really-- just the way you hold a partner, her hand, or hug, or embrace... will trigger certain hormones / endorphins ect.. to release in her.... (& THAT will trigger her heart to be a lover, or killer) That trust can be the difference during an ovulation cycle that will "take" & begin a loving family. Trust me , the brain & body know & react to triggers far better than anything that's been studied yet. It's not magic. The key is,... Find out what stirs in a
womans
heart. Then your on your way to finding a lasting love. & it's not easy. Most of the women I've dealt w/ over the years have been damaged - almost beyond repair. Either about their Dad or ex-husband, about what they did, or didn't do, to them or for them. & the knots are hard to untangle. Most you just steer around & go on 'cause you can't fix some things.

Women are feral creatures; there is a wild streak in them. ... spirited. Not wildlike drives off cliffs, but some of them will do that. Think of a wild stallion / mare out on the plains that has not been ridden/ broken. They want to run. & not be corralled. You don't want to tame/ break them, or corral them; that kills their spirit. You just want them to run w/ you. & let them be who they are. A few wise women will recognize this. most won't. & watch out for the killers; there are many out there. They will strangle, smother, & sometimes murder relationships. They will do it & unknowingly affect your kids for life. So look for the partner that will be there w/ you all the way through the hard times... & there will be hard times. Like a miscarraige; they're rough- be there. Find out what stirs in her heart. & the key word is nurture. They have that trait like w/ kids but a lot don't know how to nurture partners 'cause they weren't
taught how. &
applies to you too; learn how. Make sure your partner is ok. Look out for them & make sure they are at peace w/ you & trust you... that you have their best interests at heart. Lead them on good paths & they will love you. You want --Healthy - Balanced- Secure. ... You are the leader; make it happen. You lose their trust, it's like humpty dumpty; you can't repair that eggshell back to the original trust. & the rule is: when they forget - THEN you are forgiven. & there's a lot more. & you don't have to have a partner on the path at times... but there is a balance/ completion/ wholeness. we'll talk. Affairs of the heart are difficult for me to prescribe but you want your partner there no matter what; & that's what your partner wants. You'll get through the rouhg times, & there will be rough times; you want someone you can count on, not anybody that will cut out - turn tail at the 1st hurdle. divorces will set you back into the stone age;
make your
choices count. Marry once for life.

Business / Finance / Real property / trading : You can devote a lifetime to learning here but know some basics. Principal ~ Agent = Principal is THE owner / THE title holder= THE decision maker. Acting in the capacity of the Agent = the principals represenative. Agent makes a commission; Principal makes the gain (orloss) on the transaction. Agent just makes a cut of the deal. a small cut. Life is Bid / Ask. Learn to trade, it's universal. Learn Sales.... if only to learn how not to be Sold something your family doesn't need.

Profesional / blue collar : Blue collar works by the hour & makes overtime... & that is ALL he makes. Your income is limited to the # of hours you will work yourself to death.... ie 70 hours per week to make what you spend.

Professional does not make overtime/ holiday pay. Professional means you deliver your talent / expertise at the agreed time~ 24/7. When you step onto the x ... you deliver. ... big league pitcher throwing a strike or BB King playing the thrill is gone at city stages = you deliver your talent. Or hit the bullseye. When I kicked in football, when they snapped the ball & set it on the spot at 41 yards out... I nailed through. Take it downtown= had extra distance past the posts = hit the mark w/ extra . You deliver at the time= professional. no excuses.

It's business, science, property ect... the things you work at to make a living... but it's the arts -- music, art, dance, sports, love, nature... those art he things you LIVE for. There are many ways to make a living; but how do you choose to live?

So many questions... and only a short lifetime to study & still be wondering.... Get out there & see it & live it. There is so much bs in our modern cultural society today... take the good, steer around the bad & leave it behind while striking your own path. Don't be afraid to be ecentric, practical, & pragmatic. Just because modern society has lost its values & is screwed up doesn't mean you have to follow it into the abyss.

You don't have to be in a college classroom to educate yourself. Many most real life knowledge / lessons are not even discussed in college. And I know many people w/ a degree which are functional idiots. .... M****** didn't get to finish school and was an automotive engineer -- i believe maybe a genius-- way ahead of his time. Review *** & my "Life Rules" occasionally. There is a lot of learning / knowledge in those rules

especially rule # 1 & # 57

It is a great quest you strive for.... glad I could help a little.

and I want you to know and understand the honor of spreading ashes of a deceased friend.

Upon death, there is a traditional way of a coffin and burial. ... or cremation. and you have the ashes of a soul.

some people take them to the ocean... that;s their way of closure. It works for them; that's ok. It seems to me of almost a ... just smother them with a pillow and get them out of here mentality. If that works for them... so be it.

I want you to take a different attitude about spreading a souls ashes. This is an honor to be asked to dispose of a soul; let's don't drown it in the ocean in one swoop and then have daquiris to celebrate. If they thought Jimmy Buffet was real talent and they enjoyed drinking at the beach, fine. That doesn't mean you have to dump the whole pack of ashes in the surf.

Just take some of the ashes... there were probably many more important places to their life; take some of their ashes there too!

More than likely... there were more places that impacted a persons life and determined who that person became. take some ashes there also! ie... Dave will take some of my ashes back to Parris Island. ie... also to Bryce Canyon, UT... as I want Dave to see that place and know what stirred my soul.

Learn ashes !

& I want you to learn some dance... it will help you to relate to some of those other cultures because they DO dance. .... since time began. You learn some basic structured steps... not freestyle wiggiling & jumping around -- anybody can do that. just some basic ballroom steps. a 4 count rhumba is so simple. Zydeco is really simple. but learn some steps. find & develop your rythym; it's a language ... not a spoken one but still a form of communication that translates across cultures. If you can understand a cultures dances... why they dance and what is important to them.... you will understand them quicker and connect w/ them .

we'll talk, Uncle Hargus

ITW
This is a letter sent to Nephew Canyon Jack. If your going to raise these kids up to be decent men... you've got to tell them and teach them how.

**********************

Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:54 PM
Subject: Backpack Notes

Canyon Jack, got word of your upcoming quest / adventure &would like to give you a few notes to tuck in your backpack and carry w/ you on this quest / trip. We are kindred spirits! And I'm glad you want to see the world.

Canyon, you are like my Son... you really are. Even though I'm your Unc Hargus... there is only a few things I can do for you.... to teach you of the world... to see the great things and PLACES of our world. From our previous trips ... up to CA, OR , WA, Whistler via Squamish, I know your heart & spirit. It's an easy choice for me. My only regret is that I couldn't be w/ you... but I will be.

the things I want you to study and learn ... and pass on are :

Quantum physics: everything evolves because of this... of the places .... of you... in you! One girl you meet is a friend... one girl makes your heart race... it's the quantum physics that release endorphins / hormones that can/ or cannot explain why that happens to almost everything in sciences and art. & why a life will take a different path because of random choices.

Geology: / Earth sciences... study the rock strata... to understand that our world is the way it evolved. & the great scenery is a sheer BONUS to view. I always can find a place to say aprayer when I'm at a great view. Don't miss sunsets; they are peace. ?What were their natural resources? ... Bronze for weapons... that was high technology at the time. or animal skins for survival in an artic climate. Rivers / lakes for trade routes ect.. Minerals; everything on earth comes from the ground ; It is either mined.... or grown. The 1st time I cracked a rock open and found a fossil; I was hooked! We sent guys to the moon.... & told them to bring back ROCKS to study; you study them too. Hydrology: A world war will be fought over water, not oil.

Archaeology: you will find the way people lived... their artifacts... their trash reveals so much; you pretty much are a detective. did they store food? for themseleves... or an extended family? ... ?Did they store food in pottery?... their version of a modern refridgerator? .... sharp obsidian rock cutting blades... via hunting... ect meat & skins for survival . Clovis culture? ; a clovis / Folsom spear point was high technology for the time period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_culture http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/expeditions/treasure_fossil/Treasures/Folsom_Point/point.html?50 How did they build thier houses? ?out of what local raw material?

Anthropology: You will study their cultural societal data to see how they lived.... as clans / tribes ... hunter / gatherers.... family structures.... as they lived. ?Did they have a god? ?were they a warring tribe? for what reason... ?What family traditions did they pass on to the next generations? ect.. ?What dances did their tribe dance? & why? ?What / who did they worship & why? ?What religeon and what probability they'd go to war for or about religeon? ?Did they have / serve Gods? or Kings? ?They had armies? for expansion or for the barbarians at the gates? From an early age I studied indian cultures & customs; from an early age I was an adventurer / explorer long before there was an Indiana Jones character. ?What language did they speak? or other communication. ?What did they value as a culture?

Religion: I tend to lean more towards a spiritual walk & not get hung up w/ religeous doctrine. Yes you need faith, and a moral compass to direct you. Just beware of the many false prophets who are a combination of huckster con men, snake oil salesmen, and motivational speaker. Homo-sapien man dates back 50 to 100k years ago. Some theories that asian man came across the Alaskan land bridge about 60k years ago. Neo-Lithic Chinese date back 10-12,000 years ago were making pottery then. About the same time of the Navajo / Dine. The Greeks, Africans, 12 tribes ect... have loooong ancient histories & stories passed down that have legend / myth / lesson / stories that are still told today, weather they are mesopotaminan or chinese stories, fold and weave into some religions. The cristians are only a couple thaousand years old; the mormons a couple hundred. Lean more toward spriritual walk & leave it others to waste their time argueing about
religious
dogma. No one has come back from the afterlife to tell anything. The indians / navajos refer to life as the great mystery; seems a wise thought out assesment. I've yet to see a Navajo on tv preaching about what you "should" be doing or not doing.... or doing faith healings. So,... 2,000 year religeons ect... they are newcomers; new kids on the block. Your religeous / spiritual walk is good for your faith.... but you still live here in this world, on this planet where these sciences explore & explain our past & future. The Greeks developed complex mathmatical formulas 5 to 7k years ago; their philosiphers are worth studying also! Get better advice than mine. My interpretation is not traditional after living in Florida for a decade & experiencing some questionable people that wore their christianity on their shirtsleeves... form your ownprinciples... be sceptical of advice from prophets.

Astronomy: For thousands of years men have got on rickety boats and sailed into the night on the oceans. or crossed the plains. Navigation and the tides. Pioneers went ahead in search of..... everything. An eclipse meant the gods were mad? Pioneers knew the stars to navigate; settlers knew the seasons to farm & ranch. It's advanced math also. Think acretion= the particles of dirt & crud that sticks to your car wheel wells when driving in snow~ particles grew to planets.

Biology: Natural selection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection . Strong DNA chains. You want to know & understand "survivor of the fittest"? & how do mutations in a gene sequence happen & why is it important to know genetic variation.

Botany ...ect... Pollen. Learn what "Adaptation" is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptation .... plants; ... yeah, it's about sex. you get the idea. You don't have to be in a classroom to learn these things. ... but do read, study & learn Adaptation. Same thing happens with animals, just takes longer.

Microbiology: Aerobic, or anaerobic.... they (the cells) will either be Gram Negative,.. or Gram Positive. Know why this is important for bacteria cells to / or not to reproduce. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-positive_bacteria Understand cell division and mutation

let me add something here about sex. The sex part is fairly easy. The parts fit as designed but it takes time to find the balance. Find the time; it's important. A good partner is really nice. A life partner makes it great. The difficult part is the Love. Don't confuse lust & the physical sex for love. The love is what's hard to find the combination. & it goes back to the quantum physics-- really-- just the way you hold a partner, her hand, or hug, or embrace... will trigger certain hormones / endorphins ect.. to release in her.... (& THAT will trigger her heart to be a lover, or killer) That trust can be the difference during an ovulation cycle that will "take" & begin a loving family. Trust me , the brain & body know & react to triggers far better than anything that's been studied yet. It's not magic. The key is,... Find out what stirs in a
womans
heart. Then your on your way to finding a lasting love. & it's not easy. Most of the women I've dealt w/ over the years have been damaged - almost beyond repair. Either about their Dad or ex-husband, about what they did, or didn't do, to them or for them. & the knots are hard to untangle. Most you just steer around & go on 'cause you can't fix some things.

Women are feral creatures; there is a wild streak in them. ... spirited. Not wildlike drives off cliffs, but some of them will do that. Think of a wild stallion / mare out on the plains that has not been ridden/ broken. They want to run. & not be corralled. You don't want to tame/ break them, or corral them; that kills their spirit. You just want them to run w/ you. & let them be who they are. A few wise women will recognize this. most won't. & watch out for the killers; there are many out there. They will strangle, smother, & sometimes murder relationships. They will do it & unknowingly affect your kids for life. So look for the partner that will be there w/ you all the way through the hard times... & there will be hard times. Like a miscarraige; they're rough- be there. Find out what stirs in her heart. & the key word is nurture. They have that trait like w/ kids but a lot don't know how to nurture partners 'cause they weren't
taught how. &
applies to you too; learn how. Make sure your partner is ok. Look out for them & make sure they are at peace w/ you & trust you... that you have their best interests at heart. Lead them on good paths & they will love you. You want --Healthy - Balanced- Secure. ... You are the leader; make it happen. You lose their trust, it's like humpty dumpty; you can't repair that eggshell back to the original trust. & the rule is: when they forget - THEN you are forgiven. & there's a lot more. & you don't have to have a partner on the path at times... but there is a balance/ completion/ wholeness. we'll talk. Affairs of the heart are difficult for me to prescribe but you want your partner there no matter what; & that's what your partner wants. You'll get through the rouhg times, & there will be rough times; you want someone you can count on, not anybody that will cut out - turn tail at the 1st hurdle. divorces will set you back into the stone age;
make your
choices count. Marry once for life.

Business / Finance / Real property / trading : You can devote a lifetime to learning here but know some basics. Principal ~ Agent = Principal is THE owner / THE title holder= THE decision maker. Acting in the capacity of the Agent = the principals represenative. Agent makes a commission; Principal makes the gain (orloss) on the transaction. Agent just makes a cut of the deal. a small cut. Life is Bid / Ask. Learn to trade, it's universal. Learn Sales.... if only to learn how not to be Sold something your family doesn't need.

Profesional / blue collar : Blue collar works by the hour & makes overtime... & that is ALL he makes. Your income is limited to the # of hours you will work yourself to death.... ie 70 hours per week to make what you spend.

Professional does not make overtime/ holiday pay. Professional means you deliver your talent / expertise at the agreed time~ 24/7. When you step onto the x ... you deliver. ... big league pitcher throwing a strike or BB King playing the thrill is gone at city stages = you deliver your talent. Or hit the bullseye. When I kicked in football, when they snapped the ball & set it on the spot at 41 yards out... I nailed through. Take it downtown= had extra distance past the posts = hit the mark w/ extra . You deliver at the time= professional. no excuses.

It's business, science, property ect... the things you work at to make a living... but it's the arts -- music, art, dance, sports, love, nature... those art he things you LIVE for. There are many ways to make a living; but how do you choose to live?

So many questions... and only a short lifetime to study & still be wondering.... Get out there & see it & live it. There is so much bs in our modern cultural society today... take the good, steer around the bad & leave it behind while striking your own path. Don't be afraid to be ecentric, practical, & pragmatic. Just because modern society has lost its values & is screwed up doesn't mean you have to follow it into the abyss.

You don't have to be in a college classroom to educate yourself. Many most real life knowledge / lessons are not even discussed in college. And I know many people w/ a degree which are functional idiots. .... M****** didn't get to finish school and was an automotive engineer -- i believe maybe a genius-- way ahead of his time. Review *** & my "Life Rules" occasionally. There is a lot of learning / knowledge in those rules

especially rule # 1 & # 57

It is a great quest you strive for.... glad I could help a little.

and I want you to know and understand the honor of spreading ashes of a deceased friend.

Upon death, there is a traditional way of a coffin and burial. ... or cremation. and you have the ashes of a soul.

some people take them to the ocean... that;s their way of closure. It works for them; that's ok. It seems to me of almost a ... just smother them with a pillow and get them out of here mentality. If that works for them... so be it.

I want you to take a different attitude about spreading a souls ashes. This is an honor to be asked to dispose of a soul; let's don't drown it in the ocean in one swoop and then have daquiris to celebrate. If they thought Jimmy Buffet was real talent and they enjoyed drinking at the beach, fine. That doesn't mean you have to dump the whole pack of ashes in the surf.

Just take some of the ashes... there were probably many more important places to their life; take some of their ashes there too!

More than likely... there were more places that impacted a persons life and determined who that person became. take some ashes there also! ie... Dave will take some of my ashes back to Parris Island. ie... also to Bryce Canyon, UT... as I want Dave to see that place and know what stirred my soul.

Learn ashes !

& I want you to learn some dance... it will help you to relate to some of those other cultures because they DO dance. .... since time began. You learn some basic structured steps... not freestyle wiggiling & jumping around -- anybody can do that. just some basic ballroom steps. a 4 count rhumba is so simple. Zydeco is really simple. but learn some steps. find & develop your rythym; it's a language ... not a spoken one but still a form of communication that translates across cultures. If you can understand a cultures dances... why they dance and what is important to them.... you will understand them quicker and connect w/ them .

Heading up hwy 16, turned left / west onto hwy 30 to Bear Lake, Utah. Start descenting off of the high plains with beautiful Utah plains with ranches, down through some mountain passes with unique rock strata, and come out onto the valley of Bear Lake.

Visability is 25 miles.... Bear Lake is 20+ miles north to south, 5 miles across.... some 110 square miles, and you can see mountain chains on the east / west horizons. it is a vast, wide, view of the west. Blue sky with high cirrus clouds... some lower alto stratus clouds... really beautiful.

Coming up on the south end of the lake is the Bear Lake state park / recreation area. It's empty... everyone gone after labor day. The air is cool and thin,... we're about 6,000' elev. This is northern Utah... we're close to the Idaho line. leave out from Pickleville.

Driving north up the west side reminds me of the Salton Sea.... very similar. Now northern Utah high arid plain reanches. About half way up Bear Lake is the Idaho state line.

A few miles north is Paris, Idaho.... a small uneventval town of 500 that seems plain.... then WOAH!!! ?What is this??? In the middle of a small hole in the wall town is this towering, magnificent church cathedral. They called it Paris Tabernacle.... I call it a cathedral. It was that majestic.

Now here at Tracks of the StoneBear the rule is... when you come upon something interesting.... we stop and check it out. Being raised a middle of the road Methodist... I steer away from religeous dogma and observe cathedrals like this as an historical event. ... There is a reason this is here; let's check this out.

Turns out... When the Mormon center at Salt Lake City wanted to begin expansion.... they built this church. This is the 1st church built since homesteading Salt Lake City as the Mormon center. Now surveying was not progressed enough at the time... they thought this church was built in Utah. Actually,... it was in Idaho!

The building was local quarried red / pink sandstone... really beautiful.

A tour through this cathedral... and it is a cathedral.... a majestic building like this built in 1889 was an engineering feat. Standing outside,... the building was majestic,... especially in a small town.

Inside, the craftsmnaship of woodwork was phenomenal. Absolutely beautiful. Most all was original work.

Really good to see this. None of this was planned. A good day! Now let's head on to the Tetons.

Yellowstone Tracks of the StoneBear

Sept 08

Bear Lake, Utah

Bear Lake, Utah to Paris, Idaho

Heading up hwy 16, turned left / west onto hwy 30 to Bear Lake, Utah. Start descenting off of the high plains with beautiful Utah plains with ranches, down through some mountain passes with unique rock strata, and come out onto the valley of Bear Lake.

Visability is 25 miles.... Bear Lake is 20+ miles north to south, 5 miles across.... some 110 square miles, and you can see mountain chains on the east / west horizons. it is a vast, wide, view of the west. Blue sky with high cirrus clouds... some lower alto stratus clouds... really beautiful.

Coming up on the south end of the lake is the Bear Lake state park / recreation area. It's empty... everyone gone after labor day. The air is cool and thin,... we're about 6,000' elev. This is northern Utah... we're close to the Idaho line. leave out from Pickleville.

Driving north up the west side reminds me of the Salton Sea.... very similar. Now northern Utah high arid plain reanches. About half way up Bear Lake is the Idaho state line.

A few miles north is Paris, Idaho.... a small uneventval town of 500 that seems plain.... then WOAH!!! ?What is this??? In the middle of a small hole in the wall town is this towering, magnificent church cathedral. They called it Paris Tabernacle.... I call it a cathedral. It was that majestic.

Now here at Tracks of the StoneBear the rule is... when you come upon something interesting.... we stop and check it out. Being raised a middle of the road Methodist... I steer away from religeous dogma and observe cathedrals like this as an historical event. ... There is a reason this is here; let's check this out.

Turns out... When the Mormon center at Salt Lake City wanted to begin expansion.... they built this church. This is the 1st church built since homesteading Salt Lake City as the Mormon center. Now surveying was not progressed enough at the time... they thought this church was built in Utah. Actually,... it was in Idaho!

The building was local quarried red / pink sandstone... really beautiful.

A tour through this cathedral... and it is a cathedral.... a majestic building like this built in 1889 was an engineering feat. Standing outside,... the building was majestic,... especially in a small town.

Inside, the craftsmnaship of woodwork was phenomenal. Absolutely beautiful. Most all was original work.

Really good to see this. None of this was planned. A good day! Now let's head on to the Tetons.